Antibiotic resistant intestinal infections found in MSM in Washington state and Montreal

[KaraBulut]

A group of researchers in Washington state and Montreal recently published a study of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in men who have sex with other men (MSM). The study found that the bacteria, Campylobacter coli, were genetically related strains and may have had a common origin. Campylobacter is a common cause of gastroenteritis and causes gastrointestinal pain, bloody diarrhea and fever. Under normal circumstances, it can be treated with antibiotics or it may resolve on its own. Because the new strains do not respond to the antibiotics that are typically used, it is a challenge to treat.

The researchers believe that the resistant bacteria found in MSM in Montreal and the Seattle area is spread through anal sex practices that allow the bacteria to be transmitted.

International Spread of Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacter coli in Men who have Sex with Men in Washington State and Quebec [Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases]

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

Has this campy bacteria reached Europe yet?

 

[KaraBulut]

Has this campy bacteria reached Europe yet?

Campylobacter is one of those "stomach flu" things that a lot of people get from travel, being around baby diapers and occasionally from contaminated food/water. Because it's a gram negative bacteria, it doesn't respond to a lot of the more common antibiotics, so we were already limited on treatment options.

This drug resistant strain and the fact that it's now spreading through anal sex, including rimming and ass-to-mouth in MSM is a new wrinkle. The fact that the clusters that were found were on different coasts is probably an indication that it's going to continue to show up in more clusters in urban areas in the future.